IPL 2016: Angry MS Dhoni slams new-ball bowlers after Pune suffer another defeat

Steve Smith's 101 went in vain as Rising Pune Supergiants suffered a three-wicket defeat to Gujarat Lions.

Listen to Story

Advertisement
IPL 2016: Angry MS Dhoni slams new-ball bowlers after Pune suffer another defeat
MS Dhoni with teammates. (BCCI Photo)

After suffering his fifth defeat in seven Indian Premier League matches this season, MS Dhoni is certainly not a happy captain. Put into bat, Rising Pune Supergiants piled up 195 for three, courtesy Steve Smith 54-ball 101. However, they failed to defend a massive total against fellow newbies Gujarat Lions and this forced Dhoni to slam his bowlers, especially the "new-ball bowlers". (Match Report | Highlights)

advertisement

"First six overs, sixty runs, and it puts a lot of pressure. I feel we definitely need to improve our new-ball bowling. We should crack the code. Otherwise, we will be at the receiving end," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Pune Supergiants' season has has been marred by injuries to two of the in-form players -- Kevin Pietersen and Faf du Plessis -- but the side's bowling, barring the two wins where bowlers had the upper hand, has somewhat looked weak.

"Injuries are beyond control. Still, more than the batting, the bowling has struggled. We have tried five-bowler combinations, six-bowler combinations. It is not happening for us. We have to sort out a few things. Otherwise, we will keep losing," a furious Dhoni added.

Suresh Raina, who had played under Dhoni in the previous eight editions of the IPL, credited his openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum for doing the damage in the powerplay.

"Close win. Baz and Smith did the damage in first six overs. Jimmy had a good birthday tonight. When you have a target in mind, you can attack the first six overs. It is working for us," Raina said after Lions clinched a last-ball win in Pune.

Raina is enjoying his captaincy in the league as his side has now opened up a four-point lead at the top.

"Captaincy has been good. Learnt a lot from MS. I am not going to see MS tonight. He will be very, very upset. I'll see him later," he said.

Man of the Match Dwayne Smith, who scored a 63 off just 37 balls in Lions' three-wicket win, said he enjoys batting with McCullum.

"I enjoy opening, especially with Baz. I hope we can continue doing that. It was great to see Baz take the mantle. I just had to sit back. The boys are really up for it," he said.